History & Culture

In 1847, when Brigham Young entered the Salt Lake Valley he declared, "This is the place"... years later we still believe that!

Some consider that the timeline of Utah goes way back to the age of dinosaurs. Indeed, fossilized evidence is abundant in our state. Human cultures came later. Utah's Puebloan cultures, the Anasazi and Fremont culture, date back to 1200 A.D. and our lands are rich with evidence of their lives found in rock art – pictographs and petroglyphs – left behind on rock walls, as well as in the ruins of their homes and villages. Other Native American cultures, Ute, Paiute, Goshute, Shoshone, and Navajo have continued to contribute to Utah's rich heritage. At the time of the American Revolution, Spanish priests explored and brought Christianity to the native populations in what is now Utah. Trappers, mountain men and traders followed close behind. Then, in 1847, Mormon pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley and soon established settlements throughout the intermountain west. Twelve years later, the first transcontinental railroad was completed in Utah, and immigration to the region grew tremendously.

On January 4, 1896, Utah achieved statehood. These early cultures formed the warp and woof of the tapestry that is Utah. Known today for its growing, tech-savvy, education-minded and recreation-oriented workforce, Utah is one of the most affordable, clean, safe and livable states in the country. Yet, despite our growing leadership in science, technology, and the arts, it is the echoes of the past that make Utah's culture a rich fabric of myriad hues and textures. This is an excellent place for traveling through history.

Want to add a bit of history to your Utah vacation? Click below for great information on fun places to visit as well as interesting facts that will enrich your Utah vacation such as the historic Temple Square in Salt Lake City, the Brigham Young University Museum of Art in Provo and the Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Ogden.